The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1887-08-26
NORAH.
A Home for Herself, But No Wei
come for Her Babe.


She was sitting detected and tired
looking on the hard benches of the in
telligence office, hushing a crying babe
in her weary arms, when some ladies
came in to look for Il girl.
She saw them glance at her, and
heard what the woman who kept the
Office was saying.
"A widow-husband died of ship
fever coming oveT-will work for very
small wages-wants to keep the child
with her.
She could not help hearing this for
every sense was alert and trained, nor
the comments of one of the ladies.
"She looks strong enough to do my
work, but the child is a nuisance can't
she give it away ?''
She heard, and clasped the little one
to her breast in q more eager embrace.
"You might try her," the woman
was saying, "she is not young nor
giddy. and losing her husband so late
ly, and having the care of her child
will keep her steady"
Yes I've a great mind to try
her. There's little room off the
kitchen where she could keep the child.
What did you say her name was ?"
"Norah :"
"Norah, would you like to try a
place with me ?''
The lady's voice was pleasant. She
had light, cheerful face, was young
and looked happy and prosperous.
q would, a'am, indeed, and I'll
try to keep little Mary as quiet us
can, so she won't disturb you.
You see 1 have children of my own,
Norah-three of them-and you will
have to help take care of them"
81 win, ma am ; only try me-"
{ So pretty Mrs. Weeks took home the
strange woman who had come such a
long way, only to find a home with
strangers in strange land.
Norah was deeply thankful for this
opportunity. A home for herself and
that poor unwelcome baby, who had
no friend in the world but its mother!
The new girl did her work well and
Mrs. Weeks declared to her friends
that she had found treasure.
But" she added, ''we must get rid
of the baby"
For it cried nights and disturbed Mr..
Weeks.
And several times Norah had been
obliged to leave what she was doing
and hush it to sleep.
Mrs. Weeks never touched il.
'It's father died of ship fever" she
said; there's no knowing but some
contagion may cling to it.
For that reason she did not allow
her own children to play with the little
stranger.
A scheme was maturing in her mind;
she was a woman with benevolent pro-
pensIties-public ones, that got into
the newspapers occasionally.
Pm going to send Norah's baby to
the children's hospital and pay for its
keep" she said, much as if she was
announcing that she was designing a
new world.
Norah heard her. She was singing
under her breath sad bit of song, the
refrain of which was: "When the sea
gives up It's dead. "
She went into the little catch-all of q
room, where her baby was asleep in a
clothes basket.
"She is like our blessed Lord" she
said, as the tears dropped upon the
sleeping face. He had not where to
lay His head. g"
She made no outcry when Mrs.
Weeks told her of her plan; indeed, how
could she.
The child would be well cared for
there, better than she could do for it,
and after she went to the place and
saw the pretty white cots, the pictures
on the walls of Christ blessing little
children, and the kind nurses, she tried
to be content. Perhaps He will suf-
fer her to come to Him?' she thought,
arranging in her own mind text she
saw there.
My own opinion is that child is
better off in kennel with its mother,
if she loves it, than alone in a palace Of
comfort.
Norah could do twice as much work
without her baby, and she did it. She
was neat, diligent and obliging, and
she never went out except on the day
she was permitted to visit the little
hospital.
1t was hot summer. The baby
faded like a pluckcd lily. Norah her.
self was faint and weak from the ex-
ressive heat. unlike any thing in that
cool. green isle. which we are told is
fair a. the smile OF God. 1t was all
she could do to cook and work and
take care of the children. as well as
bear her own burdens
But she distinguished herself BY OK.
eellence.
They also serve who only stand and
wait WhateVeT she did was well
done. The family soon leaned on her
as a sure and safe prop.
One afternoon she appeared before